CANCELLARA WINS TOUR OF CALIFORNIA PROLOGUE

Fabian Cancellara (CSC) confirmed he is the best prologue specialist in the world by storming to victory in the grounds of Stanford University at the Tour of California.

The current world time trial champion blasted round the flat and fast course stopping the clock with a time of 3:51.211 at an average speed of 51.428km/h. Bradley Wiggins (High Road) was second fastest but was four seconds off the pace in a time of 3:55.980. Wiggins was disappointed with his performance, admitting he did not time his effort to perfection.

David Millar was stunned to be so off the pace. The British time trial champion finished ninth, 8.57 behind Cancellara. His Slipstream team mate Tyler Farrar was third at 5.25 seconds. Last year’s Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer was fourth at 6.31 seconds.

Mark Cavendish (High Road) surprised himself by beating Millar 0.140 of a second to finish eighth. He will now have a shot at taking the overall lead in Monday?s first road stage from Sausalito to Santa Rosa.

Not surprisingly Mario Cipollini (Rock Racing) got the biggest cheer when he rolled down the start ramp to start his comeback. Cipollini took the prologue seriously and set a time of 4:08, finishing 44th. Not bad at 40 and after a three year absence.